Directions

Getting Here

For those traveling by air, the City is served by seven area airports. Of these, three are major hubs: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) are both in Queens, while Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is located in neighboring New Jersey. These three airports provide access to the City via taxis, buses, subways, trains and private limo car services.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

Jamaica, Queens, NY 11430
kennedyairport.com | 718-244-4444
JFK handles the most international traffic of any airport in the US—around 410,000 flights and 48 million passengers annually. About 400 daily nonstop domestic arrivals/departures connect to JFK, and 70 airlines serve its eight passenger terminals.

Subway: $7.50 ($5 for the AirTrain from JFK, plus $2.50 for the subway); 60–75 minutes to Midtown Manhattan from the A subway line at the Howard Beach/JFK Airport station or the E, J, Z subway lines and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) train at the Sutphin Blvd./Archer Ave./JFK Airport station.

Public Bus: $2.50 (with free transfer to subway line into Manhattan); 60–75 minutes to Midtown on Q10 bus to the Ozone Park/Lefferts Blvd. A train subway station.

Private bus & van companies: from $15.

Higher for private limo car services.

LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

Jackson Heights, Queens, NY 11371
laguardiaairport.com | 718-533-3400

This is the closest airport to Midtown Manhattan and handles domestic US, Canadian and Caribbean air traffic, with over 365,000 flights and 24 million passengers annually. Its four passenger terminals serve more than 476 daily nonstop arrivals/departures. It is on the northern shore of Queens, directly across the East River, about 8 miles from Midtown Manhattan.

Getting to Manhattan from LaGuardia:

Taxi: Metered fare is approximately $29–$37, plus bridge and tunnel tolls and gratuity; 20–30 minutes to Midtown Manhattan. There is also a $1 surcharge for trips taken from 4–8pm on weekdays and a 50-cent surcharge charged for trips taken from 8pm–6am daily. 212-NYC-TAXI

Public Bus: $2.50; 45–60 minutes to the Upper West Side via direct service on the M60 bus; for subway connections, board the Queens Q33 bus and disembark at either the 82nd St./Jackson Heights subway station (for 7 subway line) or the Jackson Heights/Roosevelt Ave. subway station (for 7, E, F, M or R subway lines); add an additional 15–20 minutes for subway into Midtown Manhattan. Private bus & van companies: from $12.

Higher for private limo car service.

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Newark, NJ 07114
newarkairport.com | 888-EWR-INFO

Newark Liberty welcomes more than 411,000 flights and almost 34 million passengers annually. There are more than 40 international and domestic carriers, with more than 423 daily nonstop domestic arrivals/departures. The airport is across the Hudson River from New York City, 16 miles and 45–60 minutes from Midtown Manhattan.

Getting to Midtown Manhattan from Newark Liberty:

Taxi: Service to Midtown Manhattan is via New Jersey–regulated taxis. Metered fares range $60–$75 (plus bridge and tunnel tolls and gratuity). During weekday rush hours (6–9am and 4–7pm) and on weekends (Saturday–Sunday, noon–8pm), there is a $5 surcharge to anywhere in New York State, except Staten Island. When traveling to the airport from Midtown Manhattan, service is via New York City’s regulated yellow taxis. Metered fares range $69–$75, plus a $5 surcharge in addition to tolls and gratuity.

Private bus & van companies: from $16.

Higher for private limo car services.

Other Modes of Entry

In addition to nearby airports, New York City is easily accessible via an extensive network of bridges, tunnels, ferries, trains, bus lines, heliports and even cruise ports. Driving to the City is an option, but you certainly won’t need a car to get around—the fastest, easiest way to reach virtually every NYC attraction is by foot and the City’s inexpensive 24-hour public transit system.

Ferry Service

The NY Waterway operates a ferry from Weehawken, NJ. In just 8 minutes the ferry takes you across the Hudson River to 39th Street and 12th Avenue, just one block from the Javits Center. Just park at the convenient lot adjacent to the ferry terminal in Weehawken and take a ferry which leaves every 10 - 15 minutes during peak hours.

Getting Around New York City

The best way to get around NYC is through a combination of walking and mass transit. NYC’s subways and buses are inexpensive, operate 24/7, provide a fun way to extend sightseeing and get you where you need to go, fast. Other interborough connections include ferries and even an aerial tramway.

Getting an MTA MetroCard is your first step to navigating the City by subway or bus. You can purchase a MetroCard at any subway station from multilingual machines (which accept cash, ATM cards and credit cards) or booth attendants.

Riders can choose a pay-per-ride or an unlimited-ride MetroCard. A single subway or bus ride is $2.50. (The minimum purchase for a pay-per-ride MetroCard is $4.50.) The unlimited MetroCard enables users to ride as often as they like within a fixed time period: seven days ($29) or 30 days ($104). Varying discounts are given when purchasing multiple rides, and for seniors (age 65 and older) and disabled riders. For a map of New York City’s subway and bus system, click here.

Taxis

The City’s yellow fleet of taxicabs is regulated by the Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC). Taxicabs operate 24 hours, provide door-to-door service and accept cash or credit cards. To hail a taxi, stand at the curb and look for a yellow cab with an illuminated white number on top. Off-duty cabs display the illuminated words “Off Duty” on the same sign. Board and exit the cab curbside.

There is a minimum meter fare of $2.50, and prices increase based on the distance and duration of the trip (assume prices are higher during peak rush-hour traffic). Surcharges apply to the meter price Monday–Friday, 4–8pm, and nightly, 8pm–6am. Drivers appreciate a 15–20 percent gratuity at the end of a trip. Bridge and tunnel tolls are extra (and not included in the taxi’s metered fare). For further details, visit nyc.gov/taxi or call the City’s information hotline, 311.

Weather

New York City weather can vary from day to day, and even hour to hour, but a guide to the seasons can help you plan your wardrobe. Spring in New York City brings budding flowers, light winds and rain, with the season's temperatures ranging from cool to very warm. Summer is characterized by bright, sunny, hot days and later sunsets, sometimes accompanied by cool breezes in areas near the water. The fall season is cool and crisp, so it's wise to wear layers. The winter months are cold and snowy with less daylight, though the sky is often sunny and clear. Below is a chart with average temperatures and rainfall by month.

Time Zone

New York City is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone (Greenwich Mean Time minus four hours during daylight saving time, from March through November, and minus five hours the rest of the year). Check here for the current date and time in NYC.

Tips for other service personnel, such as theater ushers, tour guides and coat-check staff, are always appreciated.

It’s worth noting that if you’re having drinks at a bar, bartenders typically expect a $1 tip for every drink they serve you. Later on, when the bar gets crowded, you’ll be glad that the bartender remembers you!

Special-Service Needs

New York City is committed to ensuring accessibility for everyone with special needs, and has equipped all buses with lifts for those in wheelchairs and those who have difficulty climbing stairs. In addition, many subway stations contain elevators, ramps, visual display signs, accessible public telephones and tactile and audio features on vending machines. Subways also have automated voices indicating stops, and all buses and select subway stations are wheelchair accessible. Many street-hail taxicabs also accommodate wheelchairs. Passengers with disabilities are eligible for reduced fares on most mass-transit trips. For more information about NYC accessibility, call the City’s hotline (311 or 212-NEW-YORK) or the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (212-788 2830, TTY: 212-788 2838 or go to nyc.gov/mopd) or visit NYC & Company’s website.

TV Show Tapings

Attending the tapings of popular television shows filmed in New York City is fun and free. The wait for tickets is often long, so it’s best to write in for tickets as far in advance as possible. Still, many shows have standby options if you’re willing to wait in line. Click here for the addresses and schedules of TV shows—and your chance to say hi to people back home on national television.

Additional Fun Activities

Whether you’re here for business or fun, New York City is an exciting destination for all. The City is home to diverse neighborhoods, historic landmarks, glamorous clubs and some of the best museums in the world.

If you love to shop, neighborhoods like SoHo, Midtown and Williamsburg will satisfy that need. Head to Midtown for its cutting-edge fashion spots like Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and H&M; to SoHo for designer goods, handmade jewelry and artwork; and to Williamsburg to find one-of-a-kind vintage duds in charming boutiques. For culture enthusiasts, the bright lights of Broadway and the venerable museums throughout the City are unmatched.

Night owls can party at glamorous cocktail lounges in Chelsea and dancing dens in the Meatpacking District. There’s also cabaret and karaoke in Times Square, comedy clubs in Greenwich Village and Long Island City and rock ’n’ roll venues on the Lower East Side.

Foodies who want to savor delicious and authentic cuisines from every region in the world should head to Astoria, Greenwich Village and Cobble Hill. A visit to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx or Citi Field in Queens to see the Mets is a must for all baseball lovers.

New York City comprises several islands, and its waters are home to an extensive ferry system to take you uptown and downtown, as well as across the rivers between boroughs. Perhaps the best-known ferry is the Staten Island Ferry, one of the City’s transportation and sightseeing treasures. It’s primarily a commuter route between Staten Island and lower Manhattan, and it’s also a wonderful 5.2-mile, 20-minute mini-cruise with great views of the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor and Lower Manhattan—plus it’s free. Other fun aquatic shuttles include New York Water Taxi, traveling to the New York Mets’ Citi Field and other City sights; NY Waterway, which ferries fans to Yankee Stadium, in addition to harbor and sightseeing cruises; and Statue Cruises, operating direct service from Battery Park to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

While you’re in NYC, follow @nycgo on Twitter for daily events, tips and deals! Or head to nycgo.com for a list of mobile applications you can download to your smartphone, to help you explore NYC with ease.

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